Real striker Van Nistelrooy retires from international football

Amsterdam: Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has retired from international football, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said in a statement on Monday.

"After studying the schedule of Real Madrid and the Dutch team I realised ... playing for both teams would mean too tough a physical load for me and therefore I made this choice," the 32-year-old Van Nistelrooy was quoted as saying.